Head cover for use under a wig

ABSTRACT

A head cover for use under a wig to secure the wig to the head and to prevent soiling of the wig. A cap has an elastic tape within the cap along its bottom edge which extends outside the cap through an opening, By pulling the tab, the elastic tape secures the cap to the head. Material on the outside of the cap affixes the wig to the cap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to wigs and more particularly to a headcover to secure a wig to the head of the person wearing the wig whileproviding comfort to the wearer and reducing soiling of the wig.

PRIOR ART AND OBJECTS

[0002] It is well recognized that wigs are increasingly popular. A greatdeal of wig usage is cosmetic in that the user, frequently women, canavail themselves of varied hairstyles without having any changes made totheir natural hair. Increasingly, however, wigs are worn by both men andwomen for anyone of a variety of medical reasons which result in bothpartial and total hair loss. With chemotherapy, hair loss is usuallytotal but in time, hair growth is restored. Thus, a patient of suchtreatment, has total hair loss followed by a period of new hair growthbut where a wig is still necessary. To be able comfortably to secure thewig, it is essential to be able to do so with both total hair loss andwith partial hair loss. Partial hair loss may mean some hair on theentire scalp or it may be only a fringe of hair with just the center ofthe scalp being bald.

[0003] One of the most recognized difficulties with a wig is movement ofthe wig which both reveals the presence of the wig and causes a veryundesirable appearance. The interior of wigs is frequently rough. Thisis particularly so with wigs of artificial components. Wigs of naturalhair are expensive and washing results in the need for hair replacementand corrective coloring of the hair. A head cover beneath the wig whichforms a barrier between the wig and the scalp and which maintains wigcleanliness while also protecting the scalp from any harshness of thewig, is very desirable. It is even better if the head cover can beeasily washed and then be quickly reused. In addition it is veryimportant to permit the scalp to breath when the head cover is beingworn.

[0004] Various techniques have and still are being used to secure a wigto the head of the person wearing the wig. If the wearer has hair,cliping the wig to the hair is a reasonable technique. Sometimes theavailable hair is so limited as not to provide an acceptable base forsecuring the wig. Since many persons are permanently or at leasttemporaily totally bald, an alternative technique is needed to securethe wig to the scalp of such persons. Currently, double sided tape andglue compatible with human skin are used.

[0005] One commercially available device to be worn to secure a wig is aband which is wrapped about the hairline or wherever the wig is to beworn meets the scalp. Undoubtedly, such a device provides benefits.However, no barrier is provided between the scalp and the wig and thewig is secured to the band by hook and loop material.

[0006] Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a headcover to be worn under a wig that can be readily secured to the scalp.

[0007] It is still another object of this invention to provide a headcover which may be readily adapted to be secured by additional means,particularly if fringe hair is available.

[0008] It is a further object of this invention to provide a head coverwhich prevents soiling of the wig and which head cover can be readilywashed and reused.

[0009] It is still another object of this invention to provide a headcover for securing a wig to the scalp which provides a wide variety ofways to secure the wig to the head cover and thus secure the wig to thehead.

[0010] It is still another object of this invention to provide a headcover for use beneath a wig that is durable and inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A head cover is provided which comfortably fits upon the head.The head cover includes a cap generally shaped to fit a human head. Thiscap has an opening through it and the cap has a inner surface and anouter surface as well as a front and a rear. Means are affixed to theoutside surface of the cap for securing a wig to the cap. Channel meansare located on the inside surface about the bottom edge. An elastic tapeis located within the channel means. One end of the elastic tape issecured to the inside surface and extends through the opening means.Means are also provided to secure the end of the elastic tape extendingthrough the opening to the outsdie of the cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the front and left side of the headcover.

[0013]FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of the front of the head cover.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the rear and right side of the headcover.

[0015]FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the front and inside rear of thehead cover.

[0016]FIG. 5 is plan view of a metal clip mounted on a section of theinner band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS

[0017] NUMERAL DESCRIPTION 11 Cap 13 Center Section 15 Left Section 17Right Section 18 Inner Surface 19 Seams 21 Front 23 Rear 24 Bottom Edge25 Outer Front Band 26 Outer Surface 27 Center Band 29 Right Band 31Left Band 33 Outer Rear Band 35 Inner Front Band 37 Inner Rear Band 39Channel 41 Edges (Inner Front and Rear Bands) 43 Attachment Lines 45Elastic Tape 47 Opening 49 Reinforcement 51 Tab

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the outside of the head cover isshown from all directions. The head cover includes a cap 11 which ismade in three sections, namely a center section 13 and a left section 15and a right section 17. Throughout this specification, including theclaims, right is the side of the head cover worn on the right side of aperson wearing the head cover while the left side of the head cover ison the left side of a person wearing the head cover. The center section13 of the head cover is between the left section 15 of the head coverand the right section 17 of the head cover. Thus, the left section 15 ofthe cap is on the left side of the cap 11 and the right section 17 is onthe right side of the cap 11 and the center section 13 is between theleft section 15 and the right section 17. The center section 13, theleft section 15 and the right section 17 are shown as being secured toone another by seams 19 but these sections 13, 15 and 17 exist even witha cap 11 made in one piece. The cap 11 has a front 21 which is locatedover the forehead of a person wearing the head cover and a rear 23 whichis located over the neck of the wearer. The cap 11 also has a bottomedge 24 located about the head.

[0019] The cap 11 has the general shape of a head, essentially a bowlshape when in the inverted position to the position when being worn. Thecap 11 is similar in configuration to caps which generally follow theshape of the head. The cap 11 has an inner surface 18 which is placedagainst the head. The material used to make the cap 11 is important soas to provide proper flexibility and air flow. The material found mostdesirable is a filter foam sold by New Dimension Industries, Moonachie,N.J. under the designation of S-90. The S-90 filter foam has thefollowing properties: CELL TENSILE VOLUMETRIC COUNT DENSITY STRENGTH AIRFLOW PPI LB/CU. FT. PSI (MINIMUM) CFM (NOMINAL) 90 1.9 30 4

[0020] Although other materials could be used, this material providesthe flexibility, strength and ventilation for the cap to have acomfortable head cover that washes easily and quickly drys so as toready for further use.

[0021] As best seen in FIG. 2, the head cover has an outer front band 25located on the cap. The outer front band 25 is made of hook and loopmaterial. The outer front band 25 has three parts, namely a center band27, a right band 29 and left band 31. The center band 27 is essentiallyacross the center section 13 of the cap 11 while the left band 31 is onthe front 21 of the left section 15 and the right band 29 is generallyon the front 21 of the right section 17. The outer front band 25 islocated just above the edge of the cap 11 and on the outer surface 26which is opposite from the inner surface 18.

[0022] As seen in FIG. 4, an outer rear band 33 is located on theoutside surface 26 of the cap 11 at the rear 25 of the cap 11. The outerrear band 33 is also made of hook and loop material. It extends acrossthe center section 13 of the cap 11 and generally extends slightly intothe right section 17 and the left section 15 of the cap 11. Like theouter front band 25, the outer rear band 33 is located just above theedge 24 of the cap 11.

[0023] Inside the cap 11, on the inner surface 18, directly behind theouter front band 25 and adjacent to the bottom edge 24 is an inner frontband 35. The inner front band 35 is made of a smooth flexible material.Similarly, on the inner surface 18 of the cap 11, directly behind theouter rear band 33 and adjacent to the bottom edge 24, is an inner rearband 37 preferably made of the same material as the inner front band 35.

[0024] The inner front band 35 and the inner rear band 37 are bothsecured to the inner surface 18 of the cap 11 to form a channel 39between both the inner front band 35 and the inner rear band 37 with thecap 11. The channel 39 is formed by securing both the inner front band35 and the inner rear band 37 adjacent their edges 41 along attachmentlines 43 thereby leaving both the inner front band 35 and the inner rearband 37 free of the cap 11 between the attachment lines 43. An elastictape 45 is secured at the end of the inner front band 35 in the rightsection 17 and extends from there within the channel 39 between theinner front band 35 and the cap 11 to the inner rear band 37. Theelastic tape 45 enters the channel 39 beneath the inner rear band 37 atits end in the left section 15 and extends out the end of the inner rearband 37 at the right section 17. Just beyond the end of the inner rearband 37 in the right section 17, an opening 47 is formed through the cap11. The opening 47 is aligned with the inner rear band 37. Areinforcement 49 is located about the opening 47 on the outside surface26 of the cap 11. The elastic tape 45 extends through the opening 47. Onthe end of the elastic tape 45 which has passed through the opening 47is a tab 51. The tab 51 serves as a grip to pull the elastic tape 45 butthe tab 51 is also covered with hook and loop material to mate with thehook and loop material of the outer front band 25.

[0025] When the tab 51 is pulled, the tab 51 can be brought to the rightband 29 of the outer front band 25 where, using the hook and loopmaterial on the tab 51, the tab 51 can be secured to the outer frontband 25. By pulling the tab 51, the elastic tape 45 is stretched causingthe elastic tape 45 to secure the head cover to the head with comfort.

[0026] A wig which is to be worn with the head cover, requires hook andloop material to match with the hook and loop on the outer front panel25 and the outer rear panel 33 thereby securing the wig to the headcover, which in turn is secured to the head by the elastic tape 45. Thecap 11, by means of the elastic tape 45, is securely and comfortablysecured to the head regardless of whether or not the wearer has acomplete head of hair, partial hair or is completely bald. However,additional means may be used to provide additional security,particularly for situations requiring added security, regardless of theexistence or non existence of hair. For normal wear, the elastic tape 45is most adequate for everyone wearing a wig.

[0027]FIG. 3 shows a slightly alternate embodiment for a person who hasat least some hair and most specifically has that hair along the fringeof the head. Clips 53 which have a comb design with teeth directedupwardly, are secured to the inner front band 35 and to the inner rearband 37. The clips 53 catch the fringe hair to hold the cap 11 to thehead.

[0028] It is also possible to place additional hook and loop material onthe outside of the cap 11 for even greater retention between the cap 11and the wig. Double sided adhesive tape and even glue for use with humanskin can be used further to secure the cap 11 to the head. However, theelastic tape 45 provides adequate security with comfort and additionaldevices to hold the cap 11 to the head are not necessary under normalcircumstances. The hook and loop material of the outer front band 25 andthe inner rear band 37, when used with matching hook and loop materialin the wig, are adequate to hold the wig to the head cover.

[0029] It is to be understood that the drawings and description matterare in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of theprinciples of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in anyway, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made invarious elements to achieve like results without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

The claims are:
 1. A head cover for use under a wig to retain the wig inplace while providing greater cleanliness and ventilation, such headcover comprising: a cap having a bottom edge generally shaped to fit ahuman head, the cap having an opening through the cap and having aninner surface and an outer surface and a front and a rear; an elastictape having two ends, one end being secured to th inner surface, theelastic tape being located within the channel means and the other endextending through the opening; means for securing the end of the elastictape extending through the opening to the outer surface of the cap; andmeans affixed to the outer surface of the cap for securing a wig to thecap.
 2. A head cover according to claim 1 wherein the cap has threesections, namely a right section, a left section and a center section.3. A head cover according to claim 1 wherein the cap is made from apolyurethane foam ester.
 4. A head cover according to claim 1 whereinthe channel means includes at least one inner band mounted on the innersurface of the cap along the bottom edge.
 5. A head cover according toclaim 1 wherein the channel means includes an inner front band mountedon the inner surface of the cap at the front of the cap along the bottomedge and an inner rear band mounted on the inner surface of the cap atthe rear of the cap along the bottom edge.
 6. A head cover according toclaim 1 wherein the means for securing the end of the elastic tapeincludes a tab, the tab including hook and loop material.
 7. A headcover according to claim 1 wherein the means for securing a wig to thecap includes hook and loop material.
 8. A head cover according to claim1 wherein the means for securing a wig to the cap includes an outerfront band affixed to the front of the cap adjacent the bottom edge andan outer rear band affixed to the rear of the cap adjacent to the bottomedge.
 9. A head cover according to claim 1 wherein the means forsecuring a wig to the cap includes an outer front band affixed to thefront of the cap adjacent the bottom edge and an outer rear band affixedto the rear of the cap adjacent to the bottom edge, both the outer frontband and the outer rear band being made of hook and loop material.
 10. Ahead cover for use under a wig to retain the wig in place whileproviding greater cleanliness and ventilation, such head covercomprising: a cap, the cap having a bottom edge and generally shaped tofit a human head, the cap having three sections, the cap further havinga front and a rear and an inner surface and an outer surface; an outerfront band affixed to the front of the cap on the outer surface adjacentthe bottom edge; an outer rear band affixed to the rear of the cap onthe outer surface adjacent to the bottom edge; an inner front bandmounted on the inner surface of the cap at the front of the cap, theinner front panel forming a channel between the inner front band and thecap; an inner rear band mounted on the inner surface of the cap at therear of the cap, the inner rear band forming a channel between the innerrear band and the cap, the cap having an opening through the capadjacent to the inner rear band; and an elastic tape having two ends,one end being secured within the channel formed by the inner front band,the elastic tape extending through the channel formed by the inner frontband and into the channel formed by the inner rear band and beyond theend of the channel formed by the inner rear band in the right sectionand extending through the opening in the cap, the elastic tape having atab mounted on the end of the tape extending through the opening.
 11. Ahead cover according to claim 10 wherein the cap has three sections,namely a right section, a left section and a center section.
 12. A headcover according to claim 10 wherein the cap is made from a polyurethanefoam ester.
 13. A head cover according to claim 10 wherein the outerfront band and the outer rear band are hook and loop material.
 14. Ahead cover according to claim 10 wherein hook and loop material ismounted on the tab.
 15. A head cover according to claim 10 wherein theouter front band and the outer rear band are hook and loop material andwherein hook and loop material is mounted on the tab.
 16. A head coverfor use under a wig to retain the wig in place while providing greatercleanliness and ventilation, such head cover comprising: a cap, the caphaving a bottom edge and generally shaped to fit a human head, the caphaving three sections, namely a right section on the right side of thecap, a left section of the left side of the cap and a center sectionbetween the left section and the right section, the cap further having afront and a rear and an inner surface and an outer surface, the capbeing made from a polyurethane foam ester; an outer front band affixedto the front of the cap on the outer surface adjacent the bottom edgeand extending across the center section and into both the left sectionand the right section, the outer front band having three sections,namely a center band in the center section of the cap and a left bandextending partially along the left section of the cap and a right bandextending partially along the right section of the cap, the outer frontband being formed from hook and loop material; an outer rear bandaffixed to the rear of the cap adjacent to the bottom edge and extendingacross the center section of the cap, the outer rear band being formedfrom hook and loop material; an inner front band mounted on the innersurface of the cap at the front of the cap behind the outer front band,the inner front band being formed from a smooth flexible material, theinner front panel forming a channel between the inner front band and thecap; an inner rear band mounted on the inner surface of the cap at therear of the cap behind the outer rear band, the inner rear band beingformed from a smooth flexible material, the inner rear band forming achannel between the inner rear band and the cap, the cap having anopening through the cap adjacent to the inner rear band; and an elastictape having two ends, one end being secured within the channel formed bythe inner front band in the right section of the cap, the elastic tapeextending through the channel formed by the inner front band to the leftsection of the cap and into the channel formed by the inner rear bandand beyond the end of the channel formed by the inner rear band in theright section and extending through the opening in the cap, the elastictape having a tab mounted on the end of the tape extending through theopening, hook and loop material being mounted on the tab.